While the crew inside the diner pulled down everything to the bare walls, Charli put her head down, put pencil to paper, and began to sketch.
A ray of sunshine danced over the top of Charli’s bent head as Reno parked his truck down the street from where the production crew of My New Town had set up shop. There were trucks and trailers everywhere. Commotion swirled around the oblivious brunette sitting on the curb, working away with her pencil and paper.
His heartbeat tripped all over itself at the sight of her. Though it had been only a week, it felt like an eternity since he’d held her in his arms.
If she’d take him back, he’d never let her go again.
She was worth any risk, and without her, he’d be miserable. He’d never told her how he felt. But that was a mistake he’d never make again.
He got out of the truck, closed the door behind him, and walked down the street. She didn’t notice him until he sat down on the curb beside her.
“I’m not sure I’m ever going to get this right,” she said, sliding the sketch pad over onto his knee. “What do you th—”
She looked up. Obviously expecting someone else, her mouth dropped open. “Reno.”
He smiled. “Hi.”
Confusion and surprise swirled in her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, Charli.” As he slid his hands to the sides of her face, the declaration set him free. “And I want to be here or wherever you are. I want to hold you so tight that I can still feel you after you leave. Feel your heartbeat against mine. Feel your breath against my cheek in the morning when I wake up.”
Her beautiful face crumpled, and tears filled her eyes. He took her hands in his.
“You were right. About everything,” he said. “I’ve been hiding for too long, thinking it was safer. Easier. Thinking I would be disloyal to Jared, my dad, and Diana if I continued to live when they couldn’t. But then you came into my life, and you yanked the lid off that box I’ve been hiding in.”
“Well, I am pretty good for ripping things apart.” Her beautiful mouth lifted in a tentative smile.
“You’re good for me.” His lungs expanded, and his heart soared with liberation. “And I want to be good for you.”
“I . . . don’t know what to say.”
“Say you still love me.” His hands tightened around hers. “Say you’ll give me a chance to prove myself to you.”
“Oh . . .” Her hand lifted, and her warm fingers caressed his cheek. “Reno, you don’t have to prove yourself to me. I do love you.”
Relief and exhilaration filled that dark, empty space in his soul as he bent his head and lightly touched his mouth to hers. “At Paige and Aiden’s wedding, I told you I didn’t have all the answers. I told you I wouldn’t make promises. Well, I still may not have all the answers, but I’ll definitely make a promise to love you for the rest of my life. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I wanted to. But—”
Her fingers trembled as she pressed them to his lips. “There are no deadlines on telling someone you love them.” And then she smiled. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to hear it again.”
“I’ll say it as often as you want.” He smiled all the way from his heart. “I love you, Charlotte Brooks.”
In the back of the Hummer, Bear and Pumpkin were cuddled up as Charli instructed Reno where to turn. The quaint little bed-and-breakfast where she’d been staying had a beautiful ocean view and a romantic terrace. She didn’t think the nice couple who owned the place would mind a few extra guests. Even if one of them had fur.
“Are you sure you’ve got someone to watch the hardware store while you’re gone?” she asked.
“Got it covered.”
“And you swear you like the changes I made?”
He clasped his hand over hers and squeezed. “Love them.”
“And your brothers won’t mind doing your share of the ranching?”
“I’ve covered them a mess of times. It’s their turn.”
“I’ll admit. I am going to miss seeing you up on that horse with that hat and those spurs on.” She smiled and leaned across the seat to steal a kiss. “You are one hot cowboy.”
“If you like them that much, I’m sure I can arrange something.”
She laughed. “At least I’ll only have to wait a few weeks.”
“Where to after that?” he asked.
“Home.”
“Home?” He glanced at her, then turned into the driveway of the B&B. “You don’t have another location after this?”
Her heart was so full she could hardly keep the smile to herself. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“Uh-uh.” His brows came together as he parked the Hummer and turned in his seat. In the back, Pumpkin and Bear popped up and wagged their tails. “How about you tell me now.”
“The show goes on hiatus.”
“For how long?”
“For me? Forever.”
One dark brow shot skyward. “Some clarification would be helpful.”
“I’m at the end of my contract. And I’m not going to return to the show.”
His head went back. “Why?”
“Because I have other plans.”
“Like?”
“I’ve always wanted to open my own antique-and-design shop. So I thought I might put an offer on that ramshackle Victorian on Main Street.”
“In Sweet?”
“Yeah. I talked to your mom about my idea during our Margarita Fest. She might be interested in becoming my partner.”
“Sounds like a great idea.”
“I’m thinking of naming the shop Miss Giddy’s Country Junk.”
“You’re naming it after a goat?”
“Of course,” she said, making the idea sound so logical.
He smiled. “So that means you plan to stay a while?”
“I told you I love it there.”
His dimples flashed. “And I love you there.”
“Me too.” She leaned toward him and ran her fingers up the buttons on his shirt. “Although I hear Jackson moved back into his apartment, so it looks like I might need a place to stay. Think you can be there for me?”
Her heart danced as he dragged her into his arms.
“For the rest of my life.”
About the Author
CANDIS TERRY was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily-ever-after.
Please visit her on the web at www.candisterry.com and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.
By Candis Terry
ANYTHING BUT SWEET
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU
ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS
SECOND CHANCE AT THE SUGAR SHACK
Short Stories
HOME SWEET HOME (FROM FOR LOVE AND HONOR)
Coming Soon
SWEETEST MISTAKE
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ANYTHING BUT SWEET. Copyright © 2013 by Candis Terry. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and
retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition JULY 2013 ISBN: 9780062237231
Print Edition ISBN: 9780062237224
FIRST EDITION
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
77-85 Fulham Palace Road
London, W6 8JB, UK
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022
http://www.harpercollins.com
Candis Terry - [Sweet, Texas 01] Page 29